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The creation of the Light Bulb
While there were many attempts to create the first light bulb, Thomas Edison is often credited with developing the first practical and commercially viable light bulb in 1879. His version used a carbon filament that could last for many hours, making electric lighting widely accessible and revolutionizing. -
The Spanish American War
The Spanish-American War of 1898 occurred due to Spain's harsh rule in Cuba as well as the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. The U.S. defeated Spain and in addition gained control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. The war marked the U.S. as an official global power and ended Spain's colonial rule in the Americas. -
The Meat Inspection Act of 1906
The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 was a U.S. law passed to ensure sanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry. The act aimed to protect consumers from contaminated meat and improve food safety. -
Henry Ford produces the First Model T
The Model T was the first mass-produced automobile that revolutionized transportation and manufacturing. This later influenced the assembly line in 1913 and by 1927 over 15 million Model Ts had been sold. -
World War 1
World War 1 was a global conflict between the Allies and Axis powers. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked interest to begin the war. During the war, they used trench warfare and new military technologies. The U.S. joined in 1917 and The Treaty of Versailles formally ended the war and imposed heavy penalties on Germany. These events later set the stage for World War 2. -
Joseph Stalin rises into Power
Joseph Stalin's rise into power began after Vladimir Lenin's death in 1924. As General Secretary of the Communist Party, he used political alliances, propaganda, and purges of opponents. His actions led to the Great Purge from 1936 to 1938. -
FDR is Elected in 1932
Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected as the 32nd president of the U.S. beating Herbert Hoover during the Great Depression. He was reelected in 1936. 1940, and 1944. His leadership during the New Deal and World War 2 defined his presidency. -
The Holocaust
The Holocaust was a systematic genocide of six million Jewish people. It began with discriminatory laws and escalated to mass killings, forced labor, and extermination in concentration death camp such as Auschwitz. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime leader this mass murder from 1941 to 1945. -
Adolf Hitler's Rise into Power
Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany by focusing on fixing Germany's economy and political instability after World War 1. He became the leader of the Nazi Party in 1921 and developed a great deal of support from The Great Depression. In 1934, he declared himself the leader of Germany and established a dictatorship. -
Banking Act of 1933
The Banking Act of 1933 was passed during the Great Depression to restore confidence in the banking system. It established the FDIC to protect depositors' funds and imposed banking reforms. -
The Emergency Relief Appropriations Act
The Emergency Relief Appropriations Act of 1935 was passed during the Great Depression to provide large-scale funding for public works and employment programs. FDR signed this law and it allocated $4.88 billion to create jobs through WPA. This law aimed to reduce unemployment and it was a key part of the FDR's New Deal -
D-Day
D-Day was an Allied invasion in Normandy, France during World War 2. It was the largest amphibious assault in history involving 156,000 troops. This marked the turning point in the war and paved the way for liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. -
Baby Boom
The Baby Boom lasted from 1946 to 1964 and increased birth rates in the U.S. and other countries following World War 2. The boom led to major demographic and cultural shifts, influencing housing, education, and the workforce. -
McCarthyism Begins
McCarthyism refers to the period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the U.S. during the early Cold War. This involved aggressive investigations and accusations against individuals suspected of having communist ties with little to no evidence. -
NATO is formed
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed as a military alliance between Western nations to counter the threat of Soviet expansion during the Cold War. NATO was founded by 12 different countries and believed an attack on one country is an attack on all countries. -
Launching of Sputnik
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, into orbit. This marked the beginning of the Space Race between the Soviet union and the U.S. The launching of Sputnik led to an increased investment into space science and the creation of NASA in 1958. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed U.S. back operation on Castro's communist government in Cuba. The defeat was an embarrassment on the U.S. and only strengthened Castro's ties with the Soviet Union. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, marked the end of Cold War divisions in Germany and Europe. After the wall became a symbol of communist oppression, the German's destroyed for good and this led to German reunification in 1990. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991, marking the end of the Cold War. After a failed coup by communists the government became weak dissolving into the rise of Russia and other independent states. -
The Attacks on 9/11
On September 11, 2001, the U.S. was struck with four different terrorist attacks. Four planes were hijacked and used as weapons. Two of the planes hit the World Trade Center or Twin Towers in New York. Another hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C. while the fourth landed in a Pennsylvania field after the passengers fought back. The attacks led to the War on Terror, with the U.S. Invasion in Afghanistan.